Following are observations and quotes germane to Georgetown"s loss to Marquette. The former is now 6-6 on the season, 0-1 in BIG EAST Play. Marquette stands 10-6/2-3.
Why?
During a 92-64 drubbing like Georgetown received from visiting Marquette Friday nightt, many factors could have colluded in producing the outcome. Sure the Hoyas, who faced a nearly three week Covid pause in their schedule only reconvened collectively three days before the game.
There's no doubt being without tied-for-third-leading scorer Don Carey's absence (illness), along with former starting center Tim Igohefe (hand injury) reserve guard Jordan Riley (shoulder surgery) and backup pivot Ryan Mutombo (coach's decision) all not being available also, contributed to the defeat.
Head Hoya Pat Ewing refused to attribute any of that to the outcome.
"Rust, i don't give a hoo what is is" said Ewing, dispelling a common and reasonable excuse for his team's performance. "Look when I'm in the NBA, your ass gets to paid to come out and perform. In college unfortunately, they don't get paid, but but we can't say that we were rusty when we were off. Other teams have been off".
In sum, he believes the Hoyas "didn't compete". Sure they did at times - evidenced by cutting deficits of 19 with just over three and a half minutes in first half action to eight, and continuing to whittle it away trailing a trio of points with 17:14 to play. Yet "We didn't compete enough. We cut it to three points, then we let go of the rope. We have to come and and we have to compete".
Being outrebounded 45-33 to a team that has averages 37.5 rpg , while pulling down 41.5 rpg yourself this season, kind of illustrates his point.
Ewing's MU counterpart cited togetherness from his team's vantage point, as Shaka Smart noted "Just caring about each other" is "That's biggest thing" for the final result. "Every team goes through twists and turns through the course of the year. They have to understand the only way to be truly best is together".
That's seen in his team's prodigious 24 assists, a mark that exceeds their 17.1 apg, season production.
Ewing's competition or lack thereof take was constant: "If we want to succeed in the BIG EAST, we have to compete every night.
"And i do have to say; as a person whose played 17 years (professionally). as a person whose coached, what twenty years, tonight i was disappointed with my team's performance.
"I take my hat off to Marquette, they came out here to compete. Guys are always bitching 'We want playing time'. Well you've got playing time and now you've got to show you deserve to be on the floor".
Why II
From a more X's and O's/game flow perspective, it was obvious paint touches and fast breaks were central to this game's story.
Being outscored 23-10 in fast break points was inexcusable to Ewing, who pointed the finger at his guys.
"They made their runs because we made stupid decisions. We took bad shots. We forced it when we were supposed to pass it" said the coach. "Guys were open, everybody is trying to do it on their own. I keep telling them, you have to trust your teammates. Trust your teammates. When you drive in there, there are guys that are open, make the right play.
"So we turn it over or take a bad shot, and they would go down and score".
Giving up 29 points off turnovers speaks to this, which Ewing dubbed "ridiculous".The Hoyas only mustered 29.9% and 22.2% shooting from the field and three point land, respectively.
MU's Smart recognized the importance of fast break ball for his side, saying "Georgetown, they made some really good plays early in the second half. i thought the way our guys continued to fight and share with each other and continuing to turn defense into offense was a big deal for us going on that run".
What about paint touches and points, the latter being a 56 to 28 Golden Eagle advantage?
"it's always a goal to get in the paint", read ball close to the rim, "a certain number of times" said Smart. "Georgetown was being really aggressive in pick and roll coverage and we wanted to use that to our advantage to move the ball and then drive from there. i thought our guys did make some good decisions when they did get in the paint".
That hasn't really been the case for Marquette all season long. Smart and staff have worked hard to change that mindset.
Per Smart "i think sometimes with young players, there's this thinking that you can do whatever you want, or take whatever shot you want or you know, play however you want and get the result that you want. And it doesn't work that way. We say it all the time...It takes what it takes.
"So if you want to be good, be efficient on offense, if you want to finish at a certain level, you gotta get in the paint".
He and his staff have seen fruits of this labor "our last three games", which are "Creighton, Providence and tonight" in which the Golden Eagles did "a good job of getting into the paint. Now the difference is in the Creighton game we didn't finish enough of them off, shot a low percentage. These last two nights we shot the ball well". Resultantly Marquette thrashed the Friars and Hoyas.
Visitors
Patrick Ngbonga - '24 C/F
Isaiah Abraham - '24 F
Jahnathan Lamothe - '23 G
Be sure to visit Premium Court for hot discussion of this game! Additionally, check out this thread for what Smart said about two of his team's guys and former Hoya recruiting targets, Darryl Mosell and Justin Lewis.
